Boat-launching device



Oct. 13, 1931. A, D, MCKENZIE 1,827,535

BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l XMMM ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1931. A. D. M KENZIE BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 13, 1931. A. D. M KENZIE BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 4, 1930 E% Q H: 11: W

Q 3 w ww Q Oct. 13, 1931. A. D. MCKENZIE 1,827,535

BOAT LAUNCHIHG DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1930 5 Sheets-$heet 4 Oct. 13, 1931. A. D. M KENZIE 1,827,535

BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ANGUS D.

Patented Oct. 13, 1931 PATENT OFFICE iacirnnzrn, or MAnsrinLn, 01110, Assronon 'ro THE AMERICAN SAFETY I'IIJJ'IGATICN COIvZPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO BOAT-LAUNCHING nnvrou Application filed August 4, 1930. Serial No. 472,801.

My invention particularly relates to davits for life boats, and to improvements in devices of this character which are gravityoperated. My improved de *ice is provided with means adapted automatically to unfasten the boat-cover lashings and the boatbody lasI-iings and 7 remove these lashings from the boat concurrently with the outward movement of the davit which commences the boat launching operation. My improvements in boat-launching devices are high slung so 7 as to take up aminimum of deck space. For

accomplishing these purposes, I have de signed the form of apparatnsshownin the accompanying drawings and hereinafter fullydescribed, this apparatus being'easily operated, simple in its mechanical make-up, and possessing only aminimum possibility of being jammed or rendered inoperative;

'The annexed drawings and thefollowing description set forth in detail certain means enbodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but two of the 'ous forms in which the principle of the venticn may be embodied. 7 In said annexed drawings? Figure '1 is an end elevation of my improved davit and lashing-releasing constructien, associated witha life boat to which the improvements are applicable, the upright or stationary supporting position of the davit and associated elements being shown in full lines and alaunching position being shown in broken lines;

Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure 1, but upon an enlarged scale and in an unlocked position, of certain locking members formpart of the means for holding the davit in normal stationary inoperative position;

Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure 1 of said locking members in fastening position;

Figure 2 is a broken side elevation of conventional control mechanism adapted for use v til my invention;

' Figure 3 is an endelevation of the control mechanism; and the drums and associated g' shown in Figure 2; igure 4; is a front elevation of the apoaratusa's shown in full lines in Figure-1;

V mFi-gure 5 isa fragmentary horizontal section, upon an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line 5 5, Figure a;

Figure 6 is a "fragmentary plan view, upon an enlarged scale, taken from the plane indicated by the line 6-6, Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 7-7, Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan section, taken in the planes indicated by the line 8-8, Figure 1; Figure 9 is a vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 9-9, Figure 4; Figure 10 is a fragmentary bottom plan, taken in the plane indicated by the line 10-10, Figure l;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sec-.

tion, upon an enlarged scale, taken in the planes indicated by the line 11-11, F igure 8; v

Figure 12 is a vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 12-12, Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view, upon an enlarged scale, taken from the plane indicated by the line 13-13, Figure 4:, the plane from which this view is taken being also indicated by the line 13-13, Figure 15;

Figure 14 is a vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 14-14, Figures 13 and 15;

Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal sect-ion, taken in the plane indicated by the line 15-15, Figures 8 and 13;

Figure 16 is a vertical section, upon an enlarged scale, of some of the elements shown 1n Figure 9;

Figure 17 is a top plan view of the elements shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is an end elevation, similar to the full line view of Figure 1, showing a modified form of fastening means for boatcover and boat-body lashings and a modified form of means for automatically releasing said lashings upon the commencement of th outward movement of the boom;

Figure 19 is a horizontal section, taken in the planes indicated by the line 19-19, Figure 18;

Figure 20 is an end elevation, upon an enlarged scale, of some of the elements as shown in Figure 18;

Figure 21 is a fragmentary vertical section, upon an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line 2121, Figure 19, and showing the lashings in locked position; and

Figure 22 is a section, similar to Figure 21, but showing the lashings in position to be released from the mechanism adapted to retain them in locked position.

Referring to the annexed drawings in 7 2 where the. boat'may be loaded with passengers conveniently and thence lowered into the water. 7

Two pairs of spaced angle bars'lare secured'to the deck 1 and in the upright members of each pair of these angle bars is a horizontally-mountsdpivot pin 6. These two pairs of angle bars 7 and the pair of pivot pins 6' serve as. supports within which the lower endsof two booms 8 are pivoted. Inasmuch as the'construction and operation of both booms 8 are identicahl shall hereinafter describein detailonly one of them. The boom 8 isa substantially vertically-disposed memher for the greater part of its length, when innormal stationary position, the upper end 9 thereof, however, being sharply curved outwardly toward the plane of the. rail 4, of the deck 1, soas to permit the vertical supporting of the lifeboat 5 from the outer end of the curved boom section 9, the life boat 5being disposed above the deck'l substantially para-ilel with the side of the ship and the inner side of the boat 5 lyingunder the upper curved section 9, of the boom 8, as will-bereadilyseen and understood. The construction is ffsuch as to provide ample head-room between the deck 1 and the boat'5.

Secured to the outer face of the main support 31s a vertical plate 10 having vertical grooves in its outer face which are engaged by rollers 14 mounted uponzpivot pins .l4l;which in turn are mounted in the lower ends of arms 11 ofa member 11f12 of bell crank formation which is pivoted uponca pin-13 secured in the boom 8. Upon the member 12 ofthe bell crank 11- 12 are mounted chocks 17. and 18 upon and against which the life boat 5' rests when in normal inoperative position shownin full 111165111 Figure 1. In order that the life boat 5 maybe prevented from lifting up, the plate 10is formed with. outwardly projecting hooks 15 adapted to engagethe outerside of the rollers 14, as shown in Figure'l. As is evident V fromfthe brokenline showing in Figure 1, the

b'ellcrank-11=12swingsfupon the pivot 13,

during the outward movement ofithe boom 8,

the weight of the element 12 and the chocks 17 and 18, and associated parts as compared with v the weight of the element 11, being sufiicient to insure such swinging movement of the bell crank. By reason of this relative pivotal movement between the boom 81 and the bell crank 1112, the element 12 strikes the deck 1, after the boom 8 has comp'letedits outward movement. But before this happens a stop bracket 16 securedto the element 12 strikes the boom 8, as plainly shown in broken line position in. Figure 1, so that thereafter the bell'crank 1112 has no movement relative to the boom 8 but swings downwardly rigidly with the latter until the bottom of the element 12 strikes a thrust block 518 secured to the deck 1. During this downward pivotal movement of the bell crank 11 12, the rollers 14 is practicable. Secured to the cable 20 and adjacent the lower face of the curved outer portion ;9 ofthe boom 8' is a stop block 21 which prevents the raising of the life boat'5 beyond a -certain predetermined height relatlve to the top of the boom. This stop block 21 on the cable 20 contacts tightly with the underface of the curved portion 9 of the boom8, when the boom is moving from the full lineposition shown in Figure 1, to the broken line position shown therein, but is positioned 'a short distance from the said underface of the portion .9 andpthe boom 8, when the boat 5 is resting upon the chocks 17 and 18, and the-boom is in its normal upright inoperative position. .A detailed description will be hereinafter given relative to these actions of the stop block.21. The cable 20 is continued over a pulley 22 secured adjacent the outer end of the boom portion 9 and thence over a pulley 23 secured to tlie boom at about the top of the vertical portion there of and thence around a sheave 24 mounted on the main support 3, whence the cable 20 passes to a suitable control mechanism housed in a casing 25. This control mechanism is shown in detail in Figures 2 and. 8 and consists of hoisting apparatus adapted to'lower and lift the boat bat the desired speed, This control mechanism is common to thelaunching elements associated withthe two booms 8, one set of these elements being associated with each end of the life boat 5, the control mechanism being adapted to take inor play out the two cables 20 in equal amounts. No claim is made to any invention in tlie control'mecha- 'nism and the conventional form thereof shown-in Figures 2 and 3 comprises a motor 261cc whose shaft is; fixed. a pinion 27 engage ing a spur'gl-zar 28 secured to one end of the shaft 29 mounted in the control mechanism housing 25, a pinion 30 being secured to the opposite end or the shaft 29, and engaging one U pair of intermeshing gears 01 sea curedrefp ccciv ly to a pair of shafts 32 to which aresecured drums 83 upon which the twocables are wound. Suitable mechanism is thus provided for the uesired gar reductions, and the paying-out of the drmvingin of the cables 20, and other actions necessary to such control mechanism.

between l pivotally mounted in the main supports 3 is a shaft 34, clearlu shown in Figure 8, upon Whose ends projectltie main supports 3 are withan operating handle 35, clearly shown in Figure. l The latches .36 are utilized to lock the davit in stationary upright position and are operated as follows oecured at one end to and upon ne end of a pin m ed in the boom 8 is a dog 37 adapted engage a of the latch notched portion so, the latter GD 7 being further held in locked position by an additional dog pivoted at one end to a bracket 50 secured to the main support 3. Se-

racket-bt) and extending in boom is a proiection 1 formed upwardly-projecting inner-end r #iadapted to with a tooth "ormed upon a cam-shaped member l2 sen te nediaay of the ends of,

n the con? P cured to the o uardlv of tne I the boom of this construction will be described. A counter- ,to tlnow't 1e dog up into vertical position, such as ies in Figure 1, and also to vertical stationary posi- 87 will not interfere with or ts oi the locking mechanism. er l2 is formed upon one ec portion adapted, as being raised, to contact the tae member 42 so as to cause the tooth l?) to loosely engage the shoulder a l and assume the position clearly shown in Figure 1 Thus, as the boom 8 is lifted to its extreme 1 might posit-ion, lock is automatically proa tied for holding the boom in this position,

which loch prevents any further outward movement or" the boom after the dog 37 and latch 36 and the dog have been respectively engaged, and after the boom has moved so outwardly a slight distance following the interlocking of these fastening members. i In order to obviate the possible inward move mentor" the boom 8 when itis locked, I pro- 'v'ide a holding screw 47 threaded through a block ldmounted 0n the bracket 54, this whereby when the boom.

screw 47 hearing against a wear plate 45 secured to the outer side of the boom 8.

the dog 37 out of locking position and it quickly does thus act, to move the dog 37 out of the way, after the dog lO has been unlocked and after the operating handle 85 is actuated to release the latch 36. This actuati on of the handle 35 permits the automatic unlocking of the shoulder ll and the tooth under the action of the counterweight 38, and the immediate starting of the outward rotation of the boom and the dropping away of the load-support 11-12 from under the lite boat 5, the stop bloc 21 quickly contac ing with the under surface 52 of the top end of the boom. The action thereafter is controlled by the mechanism 25 controlling the plar of the cables 2-0.

Referring particularly to Figur 4-, a boat cover is secured by cover lashings 62 to the upper edge of the boat and throughout the perim ter thereof, these cover lashings 62 being formed with eyes 63 adjacent their lower ends by means of which they are fastoned, as also automatically released when necessary, as will be her after fully explained. The boat cover :0 is suspendec from the outer end of the boom 8 by ropes 61, as clearly shown in Figure l and in broken lines in Fi ure 1. Boat lashings, consisting of cables o l, are also provided, Figure 9, which are passed at their upper ends around and over the gunwales 87 of the boat and which have eyes 65 by means of which they are fastened and automatically released. Asv

clearly shown in Figures l and 8, there are a comparatively large number of opposed pairs oi the cover lashings 62 and two pairs of opposed boat lashings (54. I shall now describe the means for fastening these cover and boat lashings and or automatically releasing the same, concurrently with the cornmencement of the outward movement of the boom 8.

Secured to the two arms 12 of the bell cranks ll-lQ and transversely of the booms 8 are an inverted channel member 71 and an underlying plate 79, the channel member 71 being formed with plurality of soaced pairs of longitudinally spaced upwardly extending yes 86, one spaced pair of such eyes for each opposed pair of cover and boat lashings. Extended through this channel member 71 is a slidable rod 66 formed with a plurality of raised curved hook members 67, extended substantially parallel with the rod 66, one of which hooks is designated 68 and is somewhat longer than the ther hook, in the form of device illustrated in the accompan g drawings. It is not absolutely necessary that one of these hooks be longer than the others inasmuch as the purpose of this construction can be accomplished by hooks all of the same size, as will be hereinafter fully described.

The

counterweight 38, of course, tends to throw These hooks 67 and 68 pass through the eyes.

a tightening member," Figures 9, 16, and 17,

86 of the channel member 71 adjacently beneath the lower faces of the upperportions of said eyes 86. When'the cover lashings 62 and the boat lashings 64 are fastened, the respective'eyes 63 and 65 at the outer ends of said lashings are engaged by these hooks 67 and 68, the long hook 68 engagingtheeyes of one of the pairs of boat lashings 64, the particular purpose of which will be hereinafter fully explained. The upper ends ofthe two pairs of boat lashings 64 are passed around the gunwale 87 of the boat 5 and tightened around the boat by the following means. The inner end of each boat lashing 64 is secured to having a handle 89 and formedwith an extended internally-threaded hub member 90.

' This hub member 90 co-operates with an externally-threaded sleeve 88 having a bearing portion 88 contactingwmh a wear plate 92 secured to the top of the boat gunwale 87.

Seated against the inner end of the'tightening member 8990 is a clevis 91 within whose arms is mounted a. pin 94.

pins 94-a't the ends of the two opposed boat lashings 64 is passed a strap 93'formed with a 'buckle102. A cable 95 secured to the strap 93 serves to attach this boat lashing structure to the under side of the cover 60. It is evident that after the eyes 65 of the boat lashing 64 have been engaged by the hooks 67 the boat lashings can be tightened around the boat by revolving the handles 89 andthus 5 moving the two inner ends 91'of the lashing 64 inwardly ofthe'top of the "boat by reason of the travel of the sieeve9'0 upon the engaging member 88. 1 Theendless'strap 93 serves to'connect together the two inner ends of the tightened lashings 64 and also affords means by which the cable 95 can suspend the pairzof lashings 64 from the cover 60. The wear plate 92 also serves as a contact surface for the movement of the boat lashing 64 over'the surface of the gunwale 87. 'When fastening the boat 5either the outer or inner. lashing cable 64 can be tightened to slide the boat 5 one way or the other as is required properly to locate it in its Chocks. 17 and 18. No sliding movement of the boat 5 can take place n these chocks after both lashing cables 64 have been tightened. 'However, in a rough sea, the boat5 couldroll outward over the chock block 18'. To obviate this rolling movement of the boat under these circumstances, the inside lashing cable 64 is carried over a pulley 96 so that the inside .gunwale 87 is prevented from lifting or, in other words-from rotat- "ing about the chock block 18. Rotation of the'boat 5 in'the other directionis prevented by thechock block 17'. Thus, any untoward movement of the boat 5 in'its chocks is 'pre} vented when both the lashing cables 64 are tight.

V The invention is designed, under most con- Around the two boat lashings andmove them to non-fouling and non-interfering positions upon the commencement of the outward movement of the boom 8 which is permitted by therelease' of the latch 36. In order that this may be accomplished I mount a pulley 72 upon an angular end 73 of the slidable rod 66 and pass around this pulley a cable 69 fastened at one end 7 O to the channel member 71. From the pulley 7 2 the cable 69 is passed around a sec.- ond pulley 74 secured adj acent'the opposite end of the channel 71, whence the cable 69 passes around athird pulley 75 anchored by a holding member 76 which is formed with an eye 7 7 engaged by the long hook 68 of the rod 66. Then the cable 69 is secured at its other end to a point 78 upon the main support 3. It is evident that immediately upon the commencement of the outward movement of the boom 8, the lashing-operating cable 69 tightens and pulls upon the angular end portion 73 of the slidable rod 66, moving this rod 66 longitudinally of the channel-71 and moving the hooks 6'7 from the lashingeyes 63 and 65, the eyes intersected by the long hook 68 being the last ones thus released. Upon such release of the lashings, the cover lashings hang. downwardly from the plurality of straps 101 forming part thereof and by means of which-each cover lashing is fastened to the cover 60,;and the boat lashings 64 depend loosely from and vertically of the boat gunwales 87. It is evident that without some means for releasing the tension upon the cable 69, the latter would interfere with the downward movement of the boom, or be 7 broken, so'that I have provided means-for obviating this tension through the pulley.

75.normally anchored to the slidable rod 66 by the holding member 76. When the eye 77 of this holdingmember 76 is releasedfrom the long hook68, the pulley 75is permitted to drop downwardly toward the deck 1 and thus provide plenty of free cable .69- to permit the continued downward movement of the boom '8 until the arm 12 strikes the thrust block 48. It is further'evident that upon the downward movement of the boat 5 relativeto the boom 8, which takes place when the arms 12 of the :bell cranks 11 12 strike the thrust blocks 48 upon the deck 1, the lashings 62 and 64 aresuspended from the cover 60, as clearly shown in Figure 1, the stop block 21 upon the; boat-operating cable 20 meanwhile passing.

through a hole 80 formed in the top of the boat cover 60.

Since the purpose of'the'long book 68 is] to insure the release of theanchored pulley 75, after the release ofthe lashing eyes 63;

of normal length preferred method of accomplishing this purpower in the booms 8 that they cannot pull the bent rod 66. Therefore, under such conditions or in other necessary or desired circumstances the cable 69 can be manually pulled,-before releasing the davit, and then the boat 5 can be launched up to a list of from 25 to 28 degrees.

In the form of lashing-securing and releasing means shown in Figures 18 to 22, inclusive, a tubular member 110 is mounted in the arms 12 of the bell cranks 1112 and beneath the boat 5 and longitudinally of the latter, and to the member 110 is secured at one end by pin 111 a toothed wheel 112 adapted to be engaged by a dog 114 formed upon one end of a locking bar 113. This locking bar is mounted upon one end of the shaft 34. Due to the tension on all of the lashings, the tubular member 110 tends to rotate in a clockwise direction. This action is resisted by the dog 114. hen the davit is released and starts to move downwardly, the dog 114 rotates the toothedwheel 112' in a clockwise direction which is the same direction as the tension of the lashings tends to rotate said wheel. IVhen the lashings are tightened and the boat and cover and associated parts are tied in normal inoperative position, the

- toothed wheel 112 is put under tension by a wrench, or other suitable tool before the dog 114 is engaged therewith. An inner end portion 113' of the locking bar 113 extends beyond the shaft 34 and by reason of its engagement with the latch 36 prevents the looking bar 113 from falling downwardly, when the davit and tubular member 110 and associated parts have moved downwardly. The cover lashings and the boat lashings are formed with eyes 117 and these are engaged by the ends of pins 115 secured in the tubular member 110, the locked position of these lashings being when the pins 115 are in the substantially horizontal position shown in Figure 21. Upon the automatic turning of the tubular member 110 from the position shown in Figure 21 to the position shown in Figure 22, the lashing eyes 117 engaged by the then lower ends of the pins 115 are released by reason of the lashings falling by gravity away from said lower ends of the pins 115. The lashings 11 6 engaged by the upper ends of the pins 115 will be released by the pull of the cover 60, to which the cover-lashings and boat-lashings are respectively secured at 1 their upper ends, during the downward tilting movement of the rock arms 1112, since the cover remains suspended from the boom 8, and the tubular support 110 rocks away from the boom, as the latter moves outwardly. In this form of device, any manual release of the lashings before starting the launching movement is unnecessary since the pull of the lashings tends to assist the movement of the davit, instead of the davits necessarily having extra energy to pull the hooked rod 66 out of the lashing eyes, as true of the form of construction shown in Figure 8.

In the form of boat-launching device shown and described, the davit, when the latches 36 are unfastened, tends to move downwardly, in a counter-clockwise direction, in the disposition of the parts shown in the accompanying drawings. This action, Figure 1, causes the bearing surface 52 of the curved outer end 9 of the davit to be moved to and held against the stop block 21, which would restrain the davit from further movement except as the cables 20 are played out. As a matter of fact, during the normal operation of the device, the cables 20 commence to play out immediately, anu in a manner regulated by the control mechanism. The chocks 17 and 18 carry the boat 5 in its normal position and the weight of the boat 5 on these chocks is carried through the hinge pin 13, thus causing the rollers 14 to bear against the blocks 10. The weight of the boat 5 gives a counterclockwise rotation to the rock arm 1112 about the axis of the rollers 14. Since the pin 13 is mounted both in the boom 8 and the boat support 1112, it is carried to the left, Figure 1, giving a counter-clockwise rotation to the davit about the pivot pin 6. This movement of the davit increases the distance between the pulleys 23 and 24 until all the slack is taken out of the cable between the surface 52 and the stop block 21. The arm 11 of the support member 1112 is made considerably shorter than the arm 12, so that the movement of the pivot pin 18 to the left causes the arm 12 to drop rapidly, thus increasing the distance between the bearing surface 52 upon the under side of the curved portion 9 o the boom 8 and the chocks 17 and 18. The cable portion 20 of the operating cable 20 being of fixed length, the load is thus transferred to it.

The weight of the boom 8 and the crank arm 12 and associated parts adds to the r0- tating force in a counter-clockwise direction upon the upper ends ofthe booms 8, when the latches 36 are released. The force exerted by the pin 13 upon the boom in a counterclockwise direction acts at the starting only of the boom rotation, inasmuch as the crank arm 12 drops away'quickly from the under side of the boat 5.

In order to make certain that the stop block 21 remains in contact with the boom under surface portion 52 and does not lower vertically relative to the boom 8 -until the latter'has completed its outwardmovement,

the pulleys 2 2, 23, and 24am so located-relathan the moment arm M-l. When the cables 20 are restrained from paying out by the hoisting mechanism, the weight of the load, after the crank arm 1112 has been removed, acts on the moment arm M2. This i s resisted by a force acting on arm Since arm M-.1 is less than armM-2, the force exerted on. the end of arm M-l must be greater than the weight of the load acting on arm M2,'if the boom 8isto remain stationary. Since the cable 20 is free tomove on the pulleys except as'restrained by block 21 bearing onthe surface 52, this additional force must be applied at this point 52. When the cables 20 are being played out, this in ternal force continues to hold the pin 21 and the boom surface portion 52together, and the boom will complete its outward movement before the pin 21 and the surface portion 52 separate. Any location of thepulleys 22, 23, and 24.- and pivot point 6 which will cause arm M2 to be greater than arm M1 will satisfy these conditions; It is evident that under certain conditions the pulley 23 may not be required. I

Moment'arm M2 is not constant, but is the horizontal distance between lines drawn vertically from the groove of pulley 22 and the pin 6, so that any list of the vessel will affect arm M2. A list of the vessel. in counterclockwise direction, in the assembly shown in the accompanying drawings, will increase arm M-2, and therefore, hold pin 21 7 more tightly against thesurface 52, which action, of course, is desirable. A list of the vessel clockwise may decrease arm M;2 until it is less than arm M1. However, the as- Under suitable conditions only one such pill-V ley would be required; whereas, there are than probably conditions where even more two pulleys would be required I In the design-worked out and shown in the accompanying drawings. it is desirable to hinge the load-support'11-12 for three reasons, viz, (1) so that the load-support will drop clear of the life boat 5 and not interfere with the clean cut launching of the latter; (2) so as to multiply the rotating force'on the boom at all times and especially in case ofa list the ship; and so as to cause the end 12' on the load-support arm 12 to be drawn moreclosely to the pivot pin 6 in order that, said load-support end 12' may strike the. deck l,thus-acting as a stop for the boom. This stop prevents excessive rotation of the boom in a simple manner. The boom could be stopped by a chain, stop blocks,gor other suitable mechanism, where the particular conditions warrant.

The proportions of the design worked out and shown in the accompanying drawings require that the support 11'12 move relaresults and, where the conditions permit,

such a fixing of the load-support would be highly desirable. Other conditions might make it desirable to pivot the load-support '11-12 from some fixed part of the vessel,

such as the deck house 3, and then control its movement. by slides, links, or other mechanism, from a point at or near the pin 13 on theboom. v V

It will benoted from the accompanying drawings that the boat 5 and the launching mechanism are high slung and that a minimum amount of deck space is utilized during the usual non-operating position of the said elements.

What I claim is:

1; A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boat-loweringedavit pivoted to said support; means for holding the davit in normal inoperative position; aboat cover; a boat support secured to the davit and adapted to support a boat when the davit is in in operative position; lashings for the cover and.

lashings for the boat; locking means for the lashings carried by said boat support: means permitting the davit to move for the launching operation; and unitary means for unfastening the lashings actuated by movement of saidboat support at the commencement of the launching operation. 7

2. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boat-lowering davit pivoted to said support; means for holding the davit in normal inoperative position; a boat cover attached to the davitglashings for the cover and lashings carried by the davit" for the boat; locking means for the lashings: means permitting the davit to move for the launch ing operation; and unitary means connected to said locking means and to said main support for unfastening the-lashings by the commencement of'the launching operation. the boat cover remaining attached to the davit when removed from the boat.

3. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boat-lowering davit pivoted to said support; means for holding the davit in normal inoperative position; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; locking means for the lashings includboat; locking means for the lashings; means permitting the davit to move for the launching operation; unitary means for unfastening the lashings; and means for removing the cover from the boat, said unfastening and removing means beingcontrolled by a common means.

4. A boat-launching'device, as set forth in claim 3, and further characterized in that the unfastening means are connected to the main support and the davit for automatic actuation by the outward movement of the davit.

5. A boat-launchingdevice comprising a main support; a boat-lowering davit pivoted to said support; means for holding the davit in normal inoperative position: a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; locking means for the lashings; means permitting the davit to move for the launch- 7: ing operation; unitary means for unfastening the lashings; and means for removing the cover from the boat, said unitary means including a movable element of fixed length secured both to the main support and to the davit, and also secured to the locking means.

6. A boat-launching device, as set forth in claim 3, and further characterized in that a tension-release device is provided for said movable element.

7. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boat-lowering davit pivoted to said support; means for holding the davit in normal inoperative position; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the ing eyes on the lashings and a davit-supported bar having eye-cooperating hooks; means permitting the davit to move for the launching operation; and means for unfastening the lashings and removing the cover from the boat, the unfastening means including a movable element of fixed length secured both to the main support and to the davit and also secured to the bar of said locking means.

8. A boat-launching device, as set forth in claim 7 and further characterized in that said movable element is acable secured to the bar of said locking means.

9. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted to said support; means for lowering the boom; a cable engaging the boom and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements a boat cover; lashings for the cover andlashings for the boat;

locking means for the lashings; means for unfastening said locking means; and means automatically actuating said unfastening means at the commencement of the boom i movement.

v ings for the cover and lashings for the boat;

unitary locking means for the lashings; and unitary means for unfastening said locking means.

11. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted to said support; means for lowering the boom; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said pulley and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; unitary locking means for the lashings; means for unfastening said locking means; and means automatically actuating said unfastening means at the commencement of the outward movement of the boom.

12. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted adjacent its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; a boat-support; means for moving the latter relative to the boat upon the outward move ment of the boom; a cable engaging the boom and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable move ments: means for detachably locking the boom in raised position to the main support; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; locking means for the lashings carried said boat support; means for uniastening said locking means; and means automatically actuating said unfastening means at the commencement of the boat-support movement.

A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted adjacent its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; a boat-support; means for moving the latter relative to the boat upon the outward movement of the boom; a cable engaging the boom and adapted to carry the boat during launching: means for regulating the cable movements; means for detachably locking the boom in raised position to the main support; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; locking means for the lashings; means for unfastening said locking means; and means automatically actuating said unfastening means at the commencement of the boom movement.

14. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted adlaccnt its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; boat-support: means for moving the latter relative to the boat upon the outward movement of the boom; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said pulley and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements; means for detachably locking the boom in raised position to the main support; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashing to?) the boat; unitary locking means for the lash ings; means for unfastening said locking means; and means automatically-actuating said unfastening means at the commencement of the boom movement. 7 Y

15. 'A boat-launching devicecomprising a main support; a boom pivoted to said support; means for lowering'and. raising the boom; a pulley 'mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said mlley and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cablemovement-s; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; unitary locking means for the lashings; and means actuated by the boom and at the commencen of the outward movement o1 the-boom for untastening said locking means.

16. Aboat-launching devicecomprising a main support; boom pivoted adjacent its lower end to said support and adapted to 7 move outwardly under the force of gravity;

a boat-support; means for moving the latter relative to the boat upon the outward movement of the boom; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said puiley and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements;

means for detachably lockingthe boom in raised posit-ion to the main support; a boat cover; lashmgs for, the cover and lashings for the boat; locking means for the lashmgs and means actuated by the boom and at the commencement otthe outward movement of the boom for unfasteningsaid locking means.

17 A boat-releasin device comprising a main support; a boom mounted on saidsupport; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engagin said pulley and adaptedfto carry the boat; a boat cover suspended from the boomlplocking means for said lashings; and ueens for unfastening the detachable lashingeonnections.

1 9; boat-launching device comprising a main. support; a boom pivoted adjacent its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under theforce of gravity; a boat-support; means for moving the latter relative to the boat upon the outward movement of the boom; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said pulley and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements;

support; means for moving the latter relative N to the'boat upon the outward movement of the boom; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said pulley andadapted to carry theboat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements; means for detachably locking the boom in raised position to the main support; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; unitary locking means for the lashings mounted on the boom and having a limited movement relative thereto; means secured to the main support and to the unitary locking means and anapt'ed to uniasten the latter concurrently with a movement of the boom outwardly from the main support and a tensionrelease device for said securing means effective when said locking means have madetheir limited movement relative to the boom.

21. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom'pivoted adjacent its l lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; a boatsupport; means for moving the latter'relative to. the boat upon the outward movement of the boom; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said pulley and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements; means for detachably locking the boomin raised position to the main-support; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; unitary locking means for the lashings mounted on the boom;-and means for un fastening the locking means and comprising a longitudinal housing mounted on the boom and forming a support for the locking means and within which the latter has a limited amount of movement a cablesecured to the main support and the locking means and a tension-releasedevice for the last-mentioned cable which is effective when the locking means have made their limitedmovement relative to said housing.

v 22. A. boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted adjacent its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; a boat-support; means for moving the latter relatlve to the boat upon the outward movement of the boom; a pulley mounted on the boom; a cable engaging said pulley and adapted to carry the boat during launching; means for regulating the cable movements; means for detachably locking the boom in raised position to the main support; a boat cover; lashings for the cover and lashings for the boat; unitary locking means for the lashings mounted on the boom; and means for unfastening the locking means and comprising a longitudinal housing mounted on the boom and forming a support for the locking means and within which the latter has a limited amount of movement, a cable secured to the main support and the locking means, a pulley around which said last-mentioned cable passes, said pulley being mounted upon said locking means; and means for dismounting said pulley from the locking means after the lashings have been released and. before the locking means have completed their limited amount of movement relative to the housing.

23. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted adiacent its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; a load-support secured tothe boom and movable relatively to the latter upon the outward movement of the boom pullevs mounted on the boom; a cable engaging the pulleys and adapted to carry the load: means for reguthe boom after the latter has moved a predetermined distance.

24. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted adiacent its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; a load-support secured to the boom and movable relatively to the latter upon the outward movement of the boom: pullevs mounted on the boom; a cable engaging the pullevs and adapted to carry the load: means for regulating the cable movements; means for detachably locking the boom in raised position to the main support; and a bracket secured to said load-support and adapted to engage the boom, to stop the movement of the loadsupport relative to the boom, after the latter has moved a predetermined distance.

25. A boat-launching device comprising a main support; a boom pivoted adjacent its lower end to said support and adapted to move outwardly under the force of gravity; I a load-support secured to the boom and movable relatively to the latter upon the outward -movement of the boom, said relative movement being downwardly toward a groundengaging position of the load-support; pulleys mounted on the boom; a cable engaging the pulleys and adapted to carry the load;

means for regulating the cable. movements; means forsdetachably lockingrthe boom in raised position to the'main support; and a. stop bracket for rigidly fixing the load support relative to the/boom after the latter has moved a predetermined distance.

26. A lashing-release device, for use with life boats, comprising, tin combination with a boatcover and boat-lashings and coverlashings, unitary locking means for the lashings, and unitary means for unfastening the lashings.

27. A lashing-release device, for use with life boats, comprising in combination with a boat cover and boat-lashings and cover lashings. locking means for the lashings; means for unfastening the lashings; and. means for automatica ly actuating the unfastening means, said last-mentioned means including a movable element of fixed length adapted to be secured to the unfastening means and to a fixed support, and said unfastening means being adapted for mounting on a movable davit.

28. A lashing-release device, for use with lift boats, comprising, in combination with a movable davit. a boat cover attached thereto; combined boat-lashings and cover-lashings connected to said davit; locking means for the lashings; and means for unfastening the lashings, the unfastened lashings remaining attached to the davit.

29. A lashing-release device. for use with lift boats. comprising, in combination with a pivoted davit. and boat lashings; locking means for the lashings; and means controlled by the movement of the davit for unfastening said locking means.

30. A lashing-release device, for use with life boats, comprising, in combination with a pivoted'davit, a boat cover and boat-lashings and cover-lashings; locking means for the lashings; and unitary means controlled by the movement of the davit for unfastening said locking means.

31. A lashing-release device. for use with life boats. comprising. in combination with a davit. a boat cover, boat lashings attached to said cover and cover-lashings. said cover being attached to the davit: unitary locking means for the lashings; and means for unfastening the lashings. the cover remaining attached to the davit and the lashings remaining attached to the cover. when the lashings are released from said locking means;

32. A lashing-release device, for use with life boats, comprising, in combination with a davit, means for mounting a life boat therein in high-slung condition, a boat cover attached thereto, and boat lashings and cover lashings; unitary locking means for the lashings; and means for unfastening the lashings, the unfastened lashings remaining attached to the davit.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,827,535. Granted October 13, 1931, to

ANGUS D. McKEN ZIE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 10, for the word "of" read and; page 6, line 117, claim 2, strike out the words "carried by the davit" and insert the same to follow the word "lashings" in line 118; page 7, line 27, claim 6, for "3" read 5; page 9, lines 91 and 99, claims 28 and 29, and page 10, lines 2 and 3, claim 33, for "lift" read life; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of December, A. .D. 1.931.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

